The Dwight Howard saga took another strange twist on Thursday. It was rumored that Howard was willing to sign a contract extension with the Los Angles Lakers then later in the day word comes that he is going to test free agent market at the end of 2012-2013 season. The latest proposed trade involving Howard was Howard going to the Lakers, current Laker center Andrew Bynum to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao to Orlando along with a package of future first round picks. Many fans thought the new collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners would prevent this type of situation. It seems like nothing has changed. You still have players forcing teams to do their bidding and they are still getting paid big money.

There are two big series in the American League this weekend. In the American League West, the Texas Rangers travel to Anaheim to take on the Angels. Anaheim needs a sweep to have a realistic chance to win the division. They trail Texas by 6 games and are only ahead of the hard charging Oakland A’s by 1 ½ games. The other big series is in the American League Central the Chicago White Sox will be at the Detroit Tigers. After a slow start the Tigers are finding their stride and only trail the Sox by 1 ½ games.

In the National League, you are beginning to see some separation in the divisional and wild card races. In the National League East Washington leads Atlanta by 3 ½ games and the New York Mets have lost seven out of their last ten games to fall seven games behind Washington. In the Central, Cincinnati leads Pittsburgh by a ½ game and St Louis trails by 5 games. The Cardinals are only two games over .500. The West has San Francisco ahead of Los Angeles by 2 ½ games and Arizona trails by 7 games.

The British Open has a star studded leader board and is shaping up to have an interesting finish this weekend. Adam Scott shot -6 under par in the first round and leads Brandt Snedeker, Paul Lawrie and Zach Johnson by one shot and Luke Donald, Ernie Els, and Tiger Woods are in a group trailing by three shots. The weather has turned wet at Royal Lytham St. Anne and the pin placements will be more difficult today See how the betting odds on the British Open are shaping up for some thrilling sportsbook action.

What I know – Olympics and Baseball The US Olympic men’s basketball team cruised past France 98-71 on Sunday. Kevin Durant scored 22 points Kevin Love came off the bench to score 14 points. The US team...